US forcing Kiev to launch an attack southward: Zaporozhye official
The Zaporozhye region official says Biden's visit to Kiev rather than Ohio proves that American citizens are not his priority.
The United States is forcing Kiev to launch an attack toward the southern front and is pushing for the continuation of the war in Ukraine, member of the main council of the Zaporozhye regional administration, Vladimir Rogov, told Sputnik.
"The Americans are forcing [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy to attack in the southern direction, and Biden's visit confirms it. Biden needs war even at the cost of all inhabitants of the post-Ukrainian space to earn political points and dividends on the eve of a new electoral race and to show himself to the American people in the role of the world-maker," Vladimir Rogov told the Russian news agency.
He also said Biden's priorities as US president are not American citizens, but his own political interests.
"Biden did not travel to Ohio, where an environmental disaster occurred, at the time when he should be with the American people, but rather decided to visit Kiev and preferred a hug with Zelenskyy," Rogov added.
Read more: Republicans about Biden trip to Ukraine: 'Incredibly insulting'
As the anniversary of the war in Ukraine nears, US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kiev on Monday, promising to deliver increased arms for Ukraine and expressing his unceasing support. During the trip, the Pentagon announced providing a new security package to Ukraine amounting to $460 million.
This comes days after the Director of the Office of Foreign Assistance at the State Department Dafna Rand said the US is expected to provide an additional $9.9 billion in budget support to Ukraine.
Zelensky took Biden's visit as a key sign of support. He welcomed the American President in an English message on Telegram and called his visit "an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians."
Read more: Zakharova: US actively covering up Ohio catastrophe
A derailed train in East Palestine on February 3 caused the worst ecological disaster to hit Ohio on record so far, with the train derailment incident causing a huge fire and the release of toxic chemicals, such as hydrogen chloride, ethylene, and phosgene.
Residents of the town of East Palestine were evacuated when the derailment happened due to safety and health reasons. Animals died when the respiratory irritant toxin was largely released into the area.
An independent American journalist Nick Sortor slammed Joe Biden for his neglect of the victims of the chemical disaster in Ohio and proposed relocating a portion of the money designated for Ukraine's lethal aid to the casualties of the chemical disaster in Ohio.
"You think about the amount of money he sent to Ukraine. Right? We are talking about over 100 billion dollars. He has the ability to do that… to fix this issue and make sure the kids are safe and breathing clean air," Sortor told Sputnik.